“I love these
Americans…” Lulu, my parrot, said as he read a story in the newspaper.
“Aw, you
are a rare bird Lulu!” I said and continued, “Not many would say that. But I
know you are actually angry with them. Why, may I ask?”
“Well, it
is this way. They produce great people, or at least they think that they are
world’s greatest. They earn a lot of money because they are who they are. And
then those great persons make blunders; they repeat them…….”
“And then
they deny it a hundred times before admitting it in an interview which millions
would watch.” I interrupted him to complete the sentence.
“You got it right. They make more money because that interview is watched by millions. Mistakes
pay in USA.” Lulu said.
“You are
referring to Lance Armstrong, right?”
“Right. His
apology is no apology really.” Lulu observed.
“What do
you mean? He said it in front of millions.”
“He was saying “doping was "part of the process
required to win the Tour", and that he did not feel he was cheating at the
time and viewed it as a "level playing field." Ha, ha.”
“I think I see
your point.”
“An apology must
disclose remorse and penitent heart. Do you see any evidence of that?” Lulu
asked angrily.
“Nope.” I said.
“And this
was not a solitary instance done impulsively, but he was doing it for six years
at least. You cannot do it without knowing what you were doing it.” Lulu fired
another one.
“I think
there was this tennis star who also confessed…..”
“Andre
Agassi! He made millions by disclosing it in his autobiography.” Lulu.
“Oh, yes.
Do you think sponsors must also be paying him to disclose?”
“I can’t
say, but this drama happens only in the US of A, not so in India.”
“What makes
you say that?” I asked.
“Well,
otherwise Azaruddin would have written an autobiography and confessed match
fixing too.” Lulu said as he flew away.
Vivek